Top Python Alternatives: Programming Languages like Python 

Python is one of the most versatile software programming languages that software developers work with. It is a very useful software coding language that can be used for different coding purposes. However, there are also new-age languages (Python Alternatives) that support the development of hybrid apps and cross-platform apps.

As an upcoming programmer, a professional needs to possess knowledge of more than one programming language. The better mastery you have over different programming languages, the better application development projects you will get as a professional. 

If your company is active in the software development sector, then you need to be up-to-date about the Python alternatives that can create the most advanced software applications.

Importance of Python 

Programmers use Python because it has a very simple learning curve that is beginner-friendly. Python is very useful and has versatile use cases. The free and open-source language is easy to use and has been in use for a long time. 

Even today, Python is a top-class programming language for coders, enriched with various Python libraries that enhance its capabilities. However, apart from Python, it is important to learn other new languages to keep the knowledge base updated. Familiarity with Python libraries can also provide an edge, as they offer pre-built functions and tools that can simplify complex tasks.

Top 10 Python Alternatives In 2024

Besides Python, there are many new languages to learn in the programming sector. Choosing the right framework and the right kind of programming language can be a task. Hence, we have listed various Python alternatives that every programming professional should learn. 

1. JavaScript

JavaScript is a high-level programming language that has been used in different ways by programmers. It is one of the top Python alternatives and core programming languages used for web development and software development. It is used by 97.8 percent of today’s developers for website development. 

• The language has evolved into a cross-platform language and can be used for programming apps on multiple devices.
• Its free and open-source framework makes it a popular language like Python.

// Function to calculate the factorial of a number
function calculateFactorial(number) {
  if (number === 0 || number === 1) {
    return 1;
  } else {
    let factorial = 1;
    for (let i = 2; i <= number; i++) {
      factorial *= i;
    }
    return factorial;
  }
}

// Prompt the user for input
let userInput = prompt("Enter a number to calculate its factorial:");

// Convert the user input to a number
let number = parseInt(userInput);

// Check if the input is a valid number
if (isNaN(number)) {
  console.log("Invalid input. Please enter a valid number.");
} else {
  // Call the calculateFactorial function and display the result
  let result = calculateFactorial(number);
  console.log(`The factorial of ${number} is ${result}`);
}

2. Go

Go is a relatively new programming language that entered the programming landscape in 2007. Go was created by Google for the development of APIs and web interfaces. It has become very popular because it is a simple language with compatibility for different platforms and runtime environments. The language is also known as Golang and is very versatile. 

• The language is apt for use on multicore projects and collaborative layered app development.
• Its modern structure and ability to work on complex network infrastructure have made it very popular among many tech giants.

Many of the present apps, like Dropbox and Uber, have been developed using the Go language. Learning and choosing this programming language can definitely bring in a lot of development projects in the future. 

package main

import "fmt"

// Recursive function to calculate the factorial of a number
func factorial(n int) int {
    if n <= 0 {
        return 1
    }
    return n * factorial(n-1)
}

func main() {
    // Prompt the user to enter a number
    fmt.Print("Enter a number: ")
    
    // Declare a variable to store the user's input
    var num int
    
    // Read the user's input
    _, err := fmt.Scan(&num)
    
    // Check for any input error
    if err != nil {
        fmt.Println("Error reading input:", err)
        return
    }
    
    // Calculate the factorial of the input number
    result := factorial(num)
    
    // Display the result
    fmt.Printf("Factorial of %d is %dn", num, result)
}

3. Java

Java is also a classic programming language used for different app development projects. The language was originally developed by Oracle Corporation. It has evolved over decades and continues to be a relevant programming language.

• The object-oriented language is easy to use for programming projects. 
• The language is very versatile and can be used on different platforms like MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS, etc.
• The Java language has a Write Once, Run Anywhere characteristic, which makes it a very good programming language for multiple purposes.
• The language can be used for cross-platform app development. 

More than 3 billion devices, including mobile phones, run Java applications today. Many websites like Google and Amazon use this classic language for programming purposes and updates. Java is not as simple as JavaScript, but it can reward a professional programmer with great projects and employment possibilities. 

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declare two variables to store the numbers
        int num1 = 5;
        int num2 = 7;
        
        // Calculate the sum of the two numbers
        int sum = num1 + num2;
        
        // Print the result
        System.out.println("The sum of " + num1 + " and " + num2 + " is: " + sum);
    }
}

4. Kotlin

Kotlin is a new programming language that has been positioned as the successor of Java. The company Jet Brains developed the language and ran it on the Java virtual machine. Kotlin has improved on the drawbacks of Java and is much easier to use.

Kotlin is in the same class of programming languages as Go and Python. Google has given the language priority status in the development of Android apps.

• Kotlin can be used with different runtime environments and development platforms.
• The clean and concise code of Kotlin makes it easy to use and very productive. 
• The new age features like Type interference are also found in Kotlin.
• The programming language also has great support from tools and APIs.

Kotlin is like a bridge between old programming languages and current programming languages by being compatible with Java Libraries. Launched in the year 2015, the language has become very popular in a short period.  

// Define a function in Kotlin
fun main() {
    // Variables
    val name = "John" // Immutable variable (read-only)
    var age = 30      // Mutable variable

    // Printing to the console
    println("Hello, $name!") // String interpolation

    // Conditional statements
    if (age >= 18) {
        println("$name ")
    } else {
        println("$name ")
    }

    // Loops
    for (i in 1..5) { // Range from 1 to 5 (inclusive)
        println("Count: $i")
    }

    // Lists
    val fruits = listOf("Apple", "Banana", "Cherry")
    println("Fruits: $fruits")

    // Functions
    val result = add(5, 3)
    println("5 + 3 = $result")
}

// Define a function that adds two numbers
fun add(a: Int, b: Int): Int {
    return a + b
}

5. PHP

PHP is also a great Python alternative. It is a classic programming language that was developed in the year 1990. PHP is an open-source programming language and is easy to use. It has been used to create more than 80 percent of the present websites.

• The language is used mainly for server-side development. 
• PHP is used to create command-line scripts and can be used to develop desktop applications.
• The language has good database connectivity and is also flexible to use. 

Web developers and Android developers make it a point to learn this particular language in their initial training period. The extensive community of developers that use the language supports the learning curve and helps get the techniques right.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>PHP Example</title>
</head>
<body>

<?php
// PHP code starts here
$greeting = "Hello, World!";
$name = "John";

// You can use variables and concatenate strings
$message = $greeting . " My name is " . $name;

// You can also use echo to output content to the web page
echo "<h1>" . $message . "</h1>";

// You can use if statements for conditional logic
if ($name == "John") {
    echo "You are John.";
} else {
    echo "You are not John.";
}
// PHP code ends here
?>

</body>
</html>

6. Rust

Rust has all the features of C++ and Java, which is why it is very useful today. It is an easy, robust language that can be used for website and application development. 

In 2015, the language was developed as a side project. Today, it is one of the most loved programming languages in the world. The company Mozilla is developing this language as an open-source language for application development.

• The language offers Memory Safety and Concurrency safety to the users and very fast results.
• It requires no runtime and can be easily compiled.

Tech giants are investing in Rust to develop it as a system programming language in the future. If you are trying to upskill for your future, start learning Rust. Rust has shown a constant uptrend in the last five years and will continue to grow in potential. 

// The main function is the entry point of a Rust program
fn main() {
    // Printing to the console
    println!("Hello, world!");

    // Variables are immutable by default
    let x = 5;
    println!("The value of x is: {}", x);

    // Variables can be made mutable with the 'mut' keyword
    let mut y = 10;
    println!("The value of y is: {}", y);

    // You can reassign a mutable variable
    y = 20;
    println!("Now, the value of y is: {}", y);

    // Rust has strong, static typing
    let z: f64 = 3.14; // Explicit type annotation

    // Control flow with if-else
    if z > 4.0 {
        println!("z is greater than 4");
    } else {
        println!("z is not greater than 4");
    }

    // Loops: 'for' loop (with a range)
    for i in 0..5 {
        println!("Count: {}", i);
    }

    // Functions
    let result = add_numbers(x, y);
    println!("The result of adding x and y is: {}", result);
}

// Define a function that adds two numbers and returns the result
fn add_numbers(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32 {
    // The last expression in a function is returned
    a + b
}

7. Typescript

Taking the drawbacks of JavaScript into consideration, the language of Typescript was developed by Microsoft in 2014. Typescript is trans-compiled to the JavaScript language and is better than the classic language.
Taking the drawbacks of JavaScript into consideration, the language of Typescript was developed by Microsoft in 2014. Typescript is trans-compiled to the JavaScript language and is better than the classic language.

Both Microsoft and Google were trying to develop a worthy successor to JavaScript. When Microsoft created Typescript, it was so good that Google cooperated with Microsoft to improve the programming language. 

Frameworks like Vue, React, and Angular have declared that they will use Typescript to develop future versions where JavaScript was earlier used. The language design of Typescript is very elegant and clean, which is a pleasure to work with.  

// Define a variable with a specific type
let greeting: string = "Hello, TypeScript!";

// Define a function with typed parameters and return value
function sayHello(name: string): string {
    return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}

// Call the function
const message = sayHello("Alice");
console.log(message); // Output: Hello, Alice!

// Define an interface to describe the shape of an object
interface Person {
    name: string;
    age: number;
}

// Create an object that adheres to the Person interface
const person: Person = {
    name: "Bob",
    age: 30,
};

// Define an array with a specific type of elements
const numbers: number[] = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

// Use a for...of loop to iterate through the array
for (const num of numbers) {
    console.log(num); // Output: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
}

// Use optional and default parameters in a function
function greetPerson(name: string, greeting?: string = "Hello") {
    console.log(`${greeting}, ${name}!`);
}

greetPerson("Eve"); // Output: Hello, Eve!
greetPerson("Dave", "Hi"); // Output: Hi, Dave!

8. Swift

Apple has developed Swift as an alternative to Java, and it is rising as a preferred programming language. The language is simple but multi-paradigm and compiled, which makes it a very efficient programming language. It was launched in 2014 and is the preferred language for iOS app development. If you plan to become an iOS app engineer, you should go on to learn the language and its code. 

The clean syntax and the null safety feature of the language make it a very important language for the future. As iOS apps are in trend and iOS developers are paid really well, learning the Swift language can be highly rewarding. There has been an uptrend in the use and popularity of Swift, and it will continue.

// Function to calculate factorial
func factorial(_ n: Int) -> Int {
    if n == 0 {
        return 1
    } else {
        return n * factorial(n - 1)
    }
}

// Input a number
let number = 5

// Calculate and print the factorial
let result = factorial(number)
print("The factorial of (number) is (result)")

9. Dart 

Dart is another programming language that was created by Google. Dart is a very popular Python alternative today. The language is used for web and Android app development.

• It is a general-purpose programming language that is trans-compiled with JavaScript.
• The syntax of Dart is uncomplicated and highly productive.
• Dart is also supported by emerging tool kits and runtime environments like Flutter SDK.

Dart was released in the year 2013, and its popularity growth has been steady. Learning Dart will set you up for professional growth in the future. 

// This is a Dart program that prints a message to the console.

// Define a function called 'main'. This is the entry point of our program.
void main() {
  // Use the 'print' function to display a message on the console.
  print("Hello, World!");

  // Variables can be declared using 'var', 'int', 'double', 'String', etc.
  var name = "Alice";
  int age = 30;
  double height = 5.8;
  String city = "New York";

  // Dart supports string interpolation with the '$' symbol.
  print("$name is $age years old and lives in $city.");

  // You can also perform basic operations.
  int x = 10;
  int y = 5;
  int sum = x + y;
  print("The sum of $x and $y is $sum.");

  // Conditional statements (if-else) can be used for decision-making.
  if (age >= 18) {
    print("$name is an adult.");
  } else {
    print("$name is a minor.");
  }

  // Dart also supports loops like 'for' and 'while'.
  for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
    print("Count: $i");
  }

  // Lists are used to store collections of values.
  List<String> fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Orange"];
  print("Fruits: $fruits");

  // Functions can be defined for reusable code.
  int multiply(int a, int b) {
    return a * b;
  }

  int result = multiply(3, 4);
  print("3 * 4 = $result");
}

10. Julia

Julia is a new high-level programming language that was released in 2018.

• For new-age capabilities such as Scientific computing and Artificial intelligence apps and algorithms, Julia is the perfect language. It is very fast and can give accurate results for scientific computing. 
• It is a high-performance productive language with simple syntax.
• Julia has been used to create applications via multiple-dispatch programming.
• It can be used for parallel and distributed computing too.

# Define a function to calculate the factorial of a number
function factorial(n)
    if n == 0
        return 1
    else
        return n * factorial(n - 1)
    end
end

# Get user input for the number
println("Enter a number:")
n = parse(Int, readline())

# Calculate and display the factorial
result = factorial(n)
println("The factorial of $n is $result")

Conclusion

Python is a very relevant and efficient software development language. However, along with Python, the Python developer has to learn new programming languages to maintain his professional relevance. Upskilling and continuous learning are mandatory processes of evolution for today’s programmers. They should learn the most popular Python alternatives to survive and thrive in the competitive and dynamic app development ecosystem.